IAP Affiliated Regional Networks

IAP's affiliated regional networks are responsible for managing and implementing many IAP-funded projects.

For the sake of efficiency, to maximize scarce resources (financial and human capital), and to ensure greater regional relevance the IAP Executive Committee decided that a major portion of IAP's programmatic work should be carried out through the appointed "affiliated" regional networks (in Africa, Asia, The Americas and Europe). IAMP (Thematic network for health issues) and IAC (Functional Network for policy studies) have also been allocated funding to run projects. Follow the link to find out which projects are supported each year.

AASSA: Association of Academies and Societies of Sciences in Asia - was launched on 1 January 2012, as a consequence of the merger of AASA (The Association of Academies of Sciences in Asia) and FASAS (The Federation of Asian Scientific Academies and Societies). The new non-profit organization is made up of scientific and technological academies and science societies in Asia and Australasia.

EASAC: The European Academies Science Advisory Council - is formed by the national science academies of the EU Member States to enable them to collaborate with each other in providing advice to European policy-makers. It provides a means for the collective voice of European science to be heard. Its mission reflects the view of academies that science is central to many aspects of modern life and that an appreciation of the scientific dimension is a pre-requisite to wise policy-making. With the growing importance of the European Union as an arena for policy, academies recognise that the scope of their advisory functions needs to extend beyond the national to cover also the European level.

Through EASAC, the academies work together to provide independent, expert, evidence-based advice about the scientific aspects of public policy to those who make or influence policy within the European institutions. Drawing on the memberships and networks of the academies, EASAC accesses the best of European science in carrying out its work. EASAC aims to deliver advice that is comprehensible, relevant and timely.

IANAS: InterAmerican Network of Academies of Sciences - A regional network of Academies of Sciences created to support cooperation towards the strengthening of science and technology as a tool for advancing research and development, prosperity and equity in the Americas. Founded in the spirit of IAP in May 2004, the main objectives of the network are:

to assist in the building of national scientific capacities by strengthening science and technology relationships among the countries of the Americas, as a tool for societal development;

to cooperate in building capacities of the Academies of the region, through exchange of information and experience;

to aid in the creation of new Academies in those countries of the Americas desiring assistance in the establishment of a Science Academy; and

to influence the scientific decision-making processes in the Americas, with the goal of promoting prosperity and equity in the hemisphere.

Linking and strengthening the scientific community in the hemisphere, IANAS believes it may play a major role in contributing to the promotion of scientific capacity and excellence for sustainable development in the Americas.

NASAC: Network of African Science Academies - NASAC’s main objective is to bring together science academies and facilitate discussions on the scientific aspects of challenges of common concern, so as to make common statements on major issues relevant to Africa and to provide mutual support to member Academies. Drawing from this overall objective, the specific objectives of NASAC include to:

Facilitate the provision of advice to governments and regional organizations on scientific aspects of issues of importance to Africa's development.

Promote cooperation between Academies in Africa by exchanging information on programmes and experiences and sharing common visions;

Assist in building the capacities of Academies in Africa to improve their role as independent expert advisors to governments and to strengthen their national,

regional and international functions

Assist scientific communities in Africa to set up national independent Academies where such bodies do not exist; and

Organize conferences, workshops and symposia and issue statements or reports on topics of major concern to Africa.

In pursuing the specific objectives above NASAC collaborates with other Academies and institutions or organizations within and outside Africa to undertake initiatives or activities geared towards sustainable development in Africa.

IAMP (thematic network): The InterAcademy Medical Panel - Global network of the world's medical academies and medical sections of academies of science and engineering, is committed to improving health world-wide. IAMP activities focus on institutional collaboration to strengthen the role of all academies to alleviate the health burdens of the world's poorest people: build scientific capacity for health; and provide independent scientific advice on promoting health science and health care policy to national governments and global organizations.

IAC (functional network) : InterAcademy Council - In May 2000 all of the world's science academies created the IAC to mobilize the best scientists and engineers worldwide to provide high quality advice to international bodies - such as the United Nations and the World Bank - as well as to other institutions.

In a world where science and technology are fundamental to many critical issues - ranging from climate change and genetically modified organisms to the crucial challenge of achieving sustainability - making wise policy decisions has become increasingly dependent on good scientific advice.

The IAC is client-driven and works on a project-by-project basis. It has developed mechanisms and procedures to guarantee the scientific quality of its reports, the policy-relevance of its recommendations and the absence of regional or national bias. The IAC collaborates closely with the IAP : the global network of science academies, the InterAcademy Medical Panel, the International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences, and the International Council for Science. The IAC Secretariat is hosted by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.